The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-03
HOW AMASA SNOW GOT ON
HIS FEET.

his feet on the top rim of his stove, and
his stove full of wood and red hot. His
Office was about rod from his house,
and quite near the high wooden gate
leading into the village street. Over the
door read, "Prothonotary and Attorney
at-law." II was huge, faded sign in
black letters; one could not go by Amasa
Shows Office and not know of the bust
ness of its occupant. The trouble
with tho sign was it was not alluring
enough. Squire Slayton, down the
street, with very small sign and over
grocery store, and without big white
house, and family name and connec-
tion-Squire Slayton somehow got all
the business there was going on in East
Chesterville. Amasa Snow sat tilted back
in his wooden armchair, pulling his long
chin Leard, scratching the few gray hairs
in his sloping gray head, and trying to
conjure up some new scheme by which
he could beat Slayton again, and defer the
foreclosure sale. He had deferred it five
times on one excuse aud another; but
Slayton had him this time; there was no
help for it. The old place would have to
be sold-the old place where his boyhood
had been passed until he went to college,
and where he had lived ever since, and
seen his six gills grow up about him.
His six motherless girlsl He reached
down and broke splinter off bit of
pine-wood by the stove, and began to
chew hard on it. What would become
of the girlsl Every one a beauty in his
eyes; every one worthy of marrying the
Governor of the State. How could he
tell them that the sale of their old home
could be postponed no longer; that every
devise and trick, and every legal quibble,
had been tried apd tried againl He dared
not tell the girls. lie looked out
Of the window; it was raining An April
shower, to be sure, with the prospect of
golden sunset later on, but making
everything outside under the trees look
very. muddy and dismal. Amasa Snow
felt very much depressed. Fate appeared
to be against him.
There were his law books--a couple of
thousand dingy calf volumes, not kept up
to date the inheritance from the Judge,
his father, but even the law books were
'chatteled, as they said, l. G., mort
gagged, quite beyond their value. Every
thing he had, in fact, was mortgaged.
He had come this wet April day to the
end of things. Next week came the sale
He felt like saying-the deluge. He had
not enough money to take him and his
family out West.
That was his plan--to go West. He
hardly felt his fifty years. He felt young
and energetic when he thought of the
West. By-the-by, there was his brother,
- l,nr l.. -,
30 like him. He was West--in Cali
fornia. He had not seen him for twenty
years. The last he had heard from him
was request to send on hundred dol
lars. That was five years ago. He had
sent him fifty, and nothing had been
heard from Elisha since, except his name
endorsed across the back of the check,
showing that he had received the money.
No, 1t was clear that Elisha could
never help him. Elisha had caused him
to loose several thousand dollars once in
mine. Elisha's name was always q
great bugbcar in his family since No,
Elisha could not be expected to help
him. Stay An idea Amasa Snow be-
gan to poke the red hot fire vigorously.
1t was bleak raw day, but the fire
was hot enough in that little office if left
alone. An idea. Elisha should be made
to help him. 1t was a last hope, but il
fired him with enthusiasm. He reached
up into dusty bookcase and got down
file of letters. He was looking fol
Elisha's address.
just then there came tap at the offic'
door. Amasa turned round. "B,
Georgen he cried, nearly carried off hi
feet with astonishment. ats Elisha
IN propria PERSONAL
81 have come home" said Elisha
/ meekly. 81 have come honmIkLt to-
neighbor round
"And just in the nick of time, Elisha
Mighty glad l am to see youm Then {
thought occurred TO him, as he shook hi,
brothers. hand, with that feeble wave il
the air so common in Southern Connect
cut, he would not tell Elisha of his finan
cial condition. He might not help him
if he did. No, he would keep his Owl
counsel
The two brothers sat down by tn,
stove, and Amasa threw another stick o.
soft pine on the fire. 1t was frightfully
hot. "See here, Elisha, he said, aftel
a pause. How's the Grand American
Eagle a-doin'P
"She isn't a-doin'"
"Nothin' at allln
"No; hasn't been for ten years"
1t teas splendid mine once, Elisha
You used to say so.
$50 it was But we struck hard par
you remember about il. What's tn,
use of rakin' over old personalities at thi
time, when ought to be received will
open arms, and bonfire lighted, anC
, works touched Off"
II know, l know" replied Amasa
apologetioally. 81 ought TO ask how
you have happened on East this way"
"Why, yes; you ought to show som
brotherly feeling. It's natural"
"Well, Elisha, have you got All.
ready money in your pockets"
A thousand dollars
Amasa walked over to his old rust,
safe "Better put the money in herel 4
ne asked, casually. Elisha handed hin
a roll of bills. Don't feel like payin
back any of that two thousands" aske'
Amasa, facetiously, referring to the LOAF
he had made him in the mining scheme.
''No, said Elisha, 81 don't" After
pause, while his brother locked the safe
he said; THAT thousand rs the last cen
! I've got In the world"